Navigation with a Safe Longitudinal Distance

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the target vehicle and the host vehicle are traveling in a parking lot.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the target vehicle travels toward the host vehicle in a lane occupied by the host vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the host vehicle braking rate corresponds to a maximum braking capability of the host vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the host vehicle braking rate corresponds to a predetermined sub-maximal braking capability of the host vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the target vehicle braking rate corresponds to a maximum braking capability of the target vehicle determined based on at least one characteristic of the target vehicle identified through analysis of the at least one image.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the target vehicle braking rate corresponds to a predetermined sub-maximal braking capability of the target vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the host vehicle braking rate is less than the target vehicle braking rate.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the current speed of the target vehicle is determined based on analysis of two or more of the received images representative of the environment of the host vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the current speed of the target vehicle is determined based on an output of a RADAR unit or a LIDAR unit associated with the host vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the stopping distance for the target vehicle includes a target vehicle acceleration distance representing a distance the target vehicle would travel when, starting from the current speed of the target vehicle, the target vehicle accelerates at the target vehicle maximum acceleration capacity during a target vehicle reaction time.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the host vehicle braking rate or the target vehicle braking rate is determined based on a sensed condition of a road surface.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the host vehicle braking rate or the target vehicle braking rate is determined based on a sensed weather condition.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the target vehicle maximum acceleration capability is determined based on at least one characteristic of the target vehicle identified through analysis of the at least one image.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one characteristic of the target vehicle includes one or more of a vehicle type, a vehicle size, or a vehicle model.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the planned navigational action includes at least one of a lane change maneuver, a merge maneuver, a passing maneuver, a maintain forward heading maneuver, a parking lot navigation maneuver, or a maintain throttle action.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory includes instructions that when executed by the circuitry cause the at least one processing device to implement the planned navigational action when the determined next-state distance is greater, by at least a predetermined minimum distance, than the sum of the stopping distance for the host vehicle and the stopping distance of the target vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the predetermined minimum distance corresponds to a predetermined separation distance to be maintained between the host vehicle and other vehicles.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the predetermined separation distance is at least one meter.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further includes instructions that when executed by the circuitry cause the at least one processing device to determine the host vehicle reaction time.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein determining the host vehicle reaction time includes monitoring a time between receiving an image and determining to apply a braking response.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein determining the host vehicle reaction time includes monitoring a time between receiving an image and applying a determined response.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein determining the host vehicle reaction time includes calculating an average reaction time for the host vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the host vehicle braking rate corresponds to a maximum braking capability of the host vehicle.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the host vehicle braking rate corresponds to a predetermined sub-maximal braking capability of the host vehicle.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the target vehicle braking rate corresponds to a maximum braking capability of the target vehicle determined based on at least one characteristic of the target vehicle identified through analysis of the at least one image.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the target vehicle braking rate corresponds to a predetermined sub-maximal braking capability of the target vehicle.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the host vehicle braking rate is less than the target vehicle braking rate.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the current speed of the target vehicle is determined based on analysis of two or more of the received images representative of the environment of the host vehicle.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the current speed of the target vehicle is determined based on an output of a RADAR unit or a LIDAR unit associated with the host vehicle.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the target vehicle maximum acceleration capability is determined based on at least one characteristic of the target vehicle identified through analysis of the at least one image.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the at least one characteristic of the target vehicle includes one or more of a vehicle type, a vehicle size, or a vehicle model.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein the planned navigational action includes at least one of a lane change maneuver, a merge maneuver, a passing maneuver, a maintain forward heading maneuver, a parking lot navigation maneuver, or a maintain throttle action.